Towel-rack.



0. A. E. DORHAUER.

TOWEL RACK. APPLICATION FILED AUG-20. I911.

Patented $111.14, 1919.-

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UNrTED s'rarns PAINT nnron.

OSWALD ARTHUR EDWARD DORI-IAUER, 0F VVOOLLAHRA, NEAR SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNOR TO LESLIE ARTHUR BURLEIGH STUART, 0F SYDNEY,

NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.

TOWEL-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that'I, OswALn ARTHUR Ea WARD DORHAUER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at VVoollahr'a, near Sydney, in the State of New South Wales, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Towel-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved rack for drying or airing towels and. other like articles, my object being to construct an inexpensive rack which will enable the articles to be quickly suspended in a position permitting free circulation of air around them and from which the articles can be readily removed.

The invention comprises a back or support rigidly attached to a wall or the like from which back adjacent to the ends thereof extend two arms. On the underside of the arms are teeth or projecting pieces in each of which is a loosely hinged or pivoted retaining member which normally lies approximately horizontally in the space between two teeth with its free end against the face of the adjoining tooth. In placing a towel or the like article in position for airing or drying its edge is pushed between corresponding teeth on each arm thereby raising the retainers which on falling by gravity grip the edge of the article and hold it suspended. To remove the article it is caught by hand about midway in its upper edge and the action of raising it forces the retainers upward sufiioiently to free it from the rack.

The rack is preferably made collapsible so as to be readily transportable.

But in order that the invention may be clearly comprehended, I will now describe the preferred form of my improved rack for the suspension of three towels or like arti- 0 es.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the method of suspending an article (the innermost one) and of removing an article (the outermost one).

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one half of the rack.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section, while,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the rack collapsed for purposes of packing or transport.

The same numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts.

5 is a back or support rigidly attached to a wall or the like by means of screws or other fastenings. 66 represent arms having projections or teeth 7 and said arms are pivoted or hinged to the back 5 as by wires 9 clenched in said back and taking in the top and bottom of the inner ends of the arms so that they are hinged eccentrically to permit them to swing inwardly, their inner vertical edges being rounded off or beveled to facilitate that movement. In the teeth 7 are loosely pivoted the rectangular retainers 10 which normally lie across the spaces 8 between the teeth, their free ends .each resting against the face of the adjoining tooth. The double stay 11 has a shank or body portion which extends longitudinally of the back 5 to which it is loosely and pivotally held by staples 14 and is provided with oifset angular engaging terminals which are adapted to take in orifices 13 in the tops of the arms to hold them rigidly in extended positions.

To suspend a towel or like article on the rack, the arms 6 being adjusted to positions wherein they are parallel to one another and at a right angle to the back 5, as shown in Fig. 1, one of the edges of the towel is pushed up a space 8 of each arm forcing the free ends of the retainers 10 therein upwardly, the said retainers thereafter falling back on the edge and gripping the article. To remove the article it is merely withdrawn by gripping it about midway and raising it clear of the teeth.

In collapsing the rack the angular engag ing terminals 12 of the double stay 11 are lifted clear of the arms and the stay turned downwardly so that the terminals 12 engage the under edge of the back 5, when the arms 6 are folded inwardly against or in adjacency to said rack as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let ters Patent, is

1'. In a rack for drying or airing towels and like articles, the combination with a back of parallel arms hinged thereto for movement in horizontal planes, said arms thereby being extensible to positions wherein they are disposed at a right angle to said back and foldable to positions wherein they lie against said back, said arms being provided With article suspending means, and a stay disposed lengthwise of said back and pivoted thereto, the pivotal axis of said stay being at a right angle to the pivotal axes of said arms said stay having offset angular engaging terminals for cooperation with said arms to hold the same in their extended positions, said stay, upon the disengagement of its terminals from said arms, being toldable in adjacency to said back.

2. In a rack for drying or airing towels Gopies of this patent may be obtained for and like articles, the combination with a back or support of parallel arms pivoted thereto by Wires clenched to the back and taking in holes eccentrically positioned in the top and bottom of the arms, said arms being provided with article suspending means, and a double stay loosely attached to the back and capable of being adjusted to engage in said arms to hold them rigidly in their extended positions, substantially as described and illustrated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OSWALI) ARTHUR EDWARD DORHAUER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

